Make a Difference at Menominee

An experienced, reliable, and diverse staff has been the backbone of Menominee since 1928. Menominee’s family of professionals includes directors, counselors, nurses, kitchen staff, housekeepers, and maintenance. Every person working at Menominee must make camper safety and well-being their #1 priority.

Staff Benefits

Many Menominee campers choose to return to camp as counselors. Why? They remember all of the fun, friendly, and influential counselors they had, and they want to have the same positive impact on future generations of camp. Whether you’re a former camper or here for your first summer, you too can make a lasting impression at Menominee.

In addition to making a difference for our campers (our #1 priority), working at Menominee provides the opportunity to develop valuable skills that will help you advance your career. Before graduating college, many counselors choose Menominee to hone their leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Teachers and coaches love spending their summer in the beautiful Northwoods to supplement their experiences during the school year.

Last but certainly not least, a Menominee summer fosters friendships which far outlast the season. You’ll meet people from all over the world, with all sorts of stories, interests, and talents to share. Couches, too. It’s always nice to see a familiar face when you’re traveling halfway across the world. Menominee’s staff consists of former campers, new American staff and internationals visiting from all over the world.

Staff Expectations

Menominee’s staff help campers learn, accomplish, and grow into their best selves. Coaching, caring for, and challenging our campers requires a 24/7 commitment and a true passion for helping others. We only hire men and women excited by these major responsibilities and we also welcome a sense of humor, a positive attitude, and contagious energy.

Like our campers, Menominee’s counselors are talented, kind individuals from a variety of backgrounds. Specific counselors lead each activity, and anyone working at our waterfront, climbing wall, zipline, archery range, and riflery range must undergo additional training and certification. Most of our staff members are in-cabin counselors as well as activity specialists and coaches. Here are the positions we look to fill each summer:

How To Apply

Interested in joining the team? To be on staff you must be 18 or older by June 17, 2019. Also, you must commit to the entire nine-week contract length, from June 9 - August 8, 2019.

Explore our website so you’re familiar with our campgrounds, directors and returning counselors. Think about how you’ll add to our community as well as learn from those who have shaped it over the years.

Complete an online application, and then we’ll be in touch to schedule an interview. Background checks and reference checks are also required before being hired. Please contact us if you have any questions before submitting an application.

Know someone who would make a great addition to our team? Refer a friend to join our staff as a counselor, kitchen staff, housekeeper, or nurse. We greatly appreciate your help to grow the Menominee family and will provide a referral bonus if your friend is hired.

What do you look for in a new staff member?

Where do I apply?

What is a typical day at camp like for a counselor?

"This is Michael, a typical Menominee counselor. Let's see what his day is like: When Michael wakes up in the morning he is responsible for getting his cabin of 8 year old boys out of bed and into the mess hall for breakfast. However, today is Michael’s day to be “on-line”, so he has to serve the meal which requires waking up earlier to prepare. Michael made sure to discuss this with his co-counselor and let him know he’d be on his own with the kids that morning. After breakfast, Michael will go back to his cabin and help his kids do cabin cleanup. This is usually very easy since 8 year old boys are always so eager to sweep, mop and make their beds…

Michael then heads out to basketball as this is his area of expertise. He has 2 instructional periods this morning, juniors first then seniors, and must organize his staff to effectively lead two high-engery periods across a wide range of skill-sets. After lunch Michael usually has a rest period with his cabin, but this is his day of the week to catch up with the directors and go over how things are going in the cabin. This strategic meeting covers cabin issues, camper goals, co-counselor communication and ways Michael and the Directors can support each other.

The rest of the day Michael can coast along…he just needs to schedule his league games, help his campers write a fun song for our evening camp fire, make sure his campers takes showers, find time to do his weekly cabin write-up, get his kids to sleep, monitor the cabin compound after lights out and find time to get some rest so he can do it all again tomorrow…"

What positions do you have open?

We hire multiple atheltics coaches, activity specialists, arts and media staff, and support staff. We list all available positions above, at the end of the "Staff Expectations" section

Who works at Camp Menominee?

Where do I sleep?

Most of our staff are both cabin counselors and activity intstructors. All cabin counselors will sleep in the cabiins where their campers and co-counselors sleep. We also have private and semi-private housing for support staff.

Important Employment and Training Dates

2019 Important Dates:
Monday June 3rd: International Staff, Waterfront Staff and Climbing Wall Staff Arrive
Tuesday June 4th: Lifeguard Training
Friday/Saturday June 7/9: Climbing Wall certification/training
June 8: Remaining staff arrive
June 9: Full Staff Orientation Begins
June 17: Campers Arrive
August 8: Last Day of Camp
August 9: Staff bus to Chicago

Staff Food/Dietary Issues

While we cater to staff and campers with many different food allergies, it is important to understand that our menu is designed for the campers. We make sure to have healthy options at each meal, we serve vegetarian diets and have a salad bar at lunch and dinner.

How do I stay in touch with friends and family?

We are lucky to be in our spectatular North Woods setting, but it is relatively remote. We do not have daily wifi access for the staff, but we will work with you on the best (and cheapest!) way to get a data plan in the US while you are here. Staff will have plenty of time off, and can use that time to communicate with friends and family back home. While we are on duty, however, phone use is prohibited.

You are an all boys camp, do you hire women?

Yes. Camp Menominee is an equal opportunity employer. We have plenty of women on staff in various different roles around camp. Outside of cabin counselor roles we always look for qualified instructors, members of our media team and other areas around camp.

Am I eligible to work if I am an Non-US Citizen?

Yes. We work with various agencies to help international staff obtain Visa's to work in the US for the summer.